Door-holder



[22 uzz Zora PatentedSept. 13, 1921.

#e Zfles E Howard C72 {742725 15? Howard DOOR HOLDER.

C. P. AND F. E. HOWARD.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.22, I9I9.

unnao STATES PATENT OFFPI ClE i clmntnsr. HOWARD .AND "ram .11. nowauw, 0r HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT,

.assmnons mo Mums L. HOWARD ;& COMPANY. 10F "HARTFORD, com- NECTICU'I, 1 com'omm'mn or cnnmzcmm'r.

moon-Human.

Sp fication 0fLetters Patent. Patented Sept. 13. 1921.

rAppIteationfileflJJanuary 22, 1919. Serial No. 272,581.

C To all] whom. it vim-y ammo/-11 a tBfi'it known that "we, Cmxunno 'P. Hou nun umd ilfnnNin IE. HIUWAIH), citizens of ltllQ .linited Staten. mnd n-esillents of Hm-Mord. in 5 the ltfllllltly of ilihrrtiord mnd :itnte of Con- "neetieut. hawe inventedmertnin mew :and wisert'nl ilnnn'nvements .in Dow-Holders. of

nvhieh the following: is. a dull; elour, zmd exnet npeeifiezition. 0 lllhis invention relates rton-dooristop .nnd holder. :H'Nl :opelrnting :meehonism therefor. .and lie ipnzrtiolllnrl mmilienhle "to the door. of rneihrugy eursnnid other eonveynnees.

.Hhe mhjeot of the invention is to prouide -Hllll95l'zll1ltlllllly iinolooell .holding devioee .tlnrt will .illll'trlt the .IIIOIPITTQITtS of u :l'loort, .nnd pauixtieulurlly rflf til islliding icloor. ieither in full open or leloeeil posithms. omit 1H1] y l oint tin rite .truvel. thereby eliminating the .lnthil- 0 !'l v 'iinijln'g tto: nesors by, or of damage itotheidooror rmeehzmimn by lite exposut'e or by slammingurtion clue to sudden for Willltl or .snmying in'iotions. such as occur in railway curs. ships, .and other eonveynneefi.

A fln-thelvolijeetimi the invention isrto eonneet or eoiirdimrte the ,holding deviee with .t] 1e door operating or .lntch operating means. no thnt the door is :nrtomntieailly sinned why i and released trom the holder hy rthe ordi- 0 many operations of moving: rthe door. without requiring:roneeione Gififil't:()lditttfllfiifll] of the operator :heing directed to "the operntion. or even to the e-nietenee of the ineloeied mad pnrtinlly or .wlmlly eoueenled holding dea wives. l

In prior derives on this ('lllSH. ithe nrrenting or holding means have neunll v been -.:rpplied above or "below the door. eonsiderzihly nt one side otf the moth of movement of 0 the renter ot' the mass or weight of the door. lthnn setting up a violent shook when the door is nt ommd ilne "to the routinued swinging: movement lot the tree end of the door. In the preeent inwntion. this objec- 5 tion nvoided hy phioing rt-he holding devices lhetween the ends of the door and goret 9:l'1ll)l nit or memthe horimmtul qmth of movement of the (renter of the IIIWSS or weight of the door.

0 ilh'ondly spanning. the invention "heroin diselooed eompnisoo a onhetnntin lly inel osed door holder i eontrolled by on operating honmile of ithe door. whereby the ordinary nnd .nmnnnl opemttlon of at door handle or hitch lever releases the door from-the holder. and

pemnite .IINHTQHIQHt ot 1th? door nnd whereby melensing or .tinming hook the handle or 'lef wer (:nmes or allow-s the holder to msrest the movement-of thedmrsnnd hold it itiomnry.

llhe ainvention is .ndmptnhle .tor stopping -u-nd holding doors either positively. or .more

oneldinghv hy frictional action. fllhe pn-rtio Wlnr embodiment illustrated in .the M0011} pmnying drnwingrs employs friet'ionnl or hruking :netion. lt -eonsi is of u easing or ifirznne elm-vied within or upon the outer Side of the door and within which is moui'lted ifor.1reei proentory movement :1 brake .rod, one

:und of which.isieonneetedito the door operating ihondle. and the other-end of whieh. by

Fi 'nn-e 1 of thedrnwin sis in .framnontarr eide \ziew. ipnrtly inseetion. of :1 sliding door ha vingg this invention applied.

Fig. is a plan view projected from 31 ehowing the .door in section.

.llig. 3 is on end view of the brake .meehnninm ennried hr theidoor, the broke her hein; shownin section.

Fig. t is fragmentary plan View of the Fig.

Figs. 5 and 6 ere-elevations partly in sec tion. of the neutralizing deviee.

.Eigz. 5=Slfl0WSFtllQ position inavhieh thedoor hnndle ieheld in itsineutral positiou on Fig. A. with the .h'a-ke mpplied, while Fig. 6 shows the position oiin partot the neutralizine deviee when the door ioperating hundle movedtowurdthe right, and the brake released.

Fig. 7 isnn end elevatiolnin transverse section on the line7-7 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 8 is a similar view, taken on the line 88 of F ig. 1. Fig. 9 is a transversesection on the line 9'9 of F 5, looking in thedir'ection of the arrows.

F ig. 10 is a transverse section on the line 10- 10 of F ig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows.

' Fig. 11 shows a modified cam arrangement in reduced scale. .I

Referring to F ig. 1, the stationary door frame of a car or other scructure is indicated at 1, with the sliding door in full open position and'held by the brake. r Carried by the lock-stile 2 of the door ii any suitable manner is a door locking or latching mechanism, comprising the latch 4, thetumbler 5,and the operating handle 6,

'end in a pin 9, or other suitable connection by which the braking mechanism is operated.

Mounted Within or carried by the rail 10 or otherwise supported by the door, is a casing 11 which incloses and supports the brake mechanism. Carried by the side walls '12 and 13 or the casing 11 are ball races 14 and 15, between which are supported by anti-friction balls 16, a sliding cam 17, one end of which is pinned, or sultably connected as at 18, to the inner end of the brake rod 19. The outer end of the brake rod 19 is articulated with the lower end of the operating lever 8 by the yoke 20, which forms a slidingpivotal connection between the op- "erating handle and the brake rod. Forthe "purpose of guiding the brake rod in its lat- :eral movement, guides 21 and 22 (Fig. 5)

are fixed to the casing .11 and are so spaced that they also form abutments for the neutralizing device hereafter more fully described.

' Attached to the rear edge of the door and adjacent to the rear edge of the casing 1, is

a bracket 23, the upper and rear end of which termmates in a lug- 24- which may carry. bv means of screws 25 and the plate 26-,a buffer 27 of rubber or similar material, to cushion the impact of the door when moved to its full open position;

' Pivoted'as at 28 in the slots 29 of the biturcated rear edge of the bracket 23, is the brake lever 30, the front orinner end of which is bifurcated vand carries a roller 31 which is adapted to engage with the sliding cam 17. Intermediate the ends of the brake lever there is carried preferably by means of a pivot pin 32, the brake shoe 33 which is raised and lowered by the brake lever out of and into contact with the brake bar 34:.

One end of the brake bar 34: is supported as at 36, preferably by a pivoted connection with the bracket 37, which is fast to the stationary door frame 1. The other end of the brake bar projects lorwardly and preterably lies within the casing-ll, and is supported by the bottom 35 thereot, (Fig. 1). This support may be utilized as a brake element for the bar. The brake bar of such a length that when the doc assumes a closed position, a portion of the bar will still extend beneath the brake shoe, and when the door assumesa tull open position, as shown in Fig. 1, the outer end of the bar will not project beyond the lock-stile 2 of the door.

The brake shoe may be removed from the brake lever for renewal or repairs by removing pivot pin 32 from the brake lever, after pullingupwardly on the finger 39, which projects upwardly from the rear end of, the brake lever 30, thus exposing the ends of the pin 32 above the retaining cars 10, formed on the bracket, which under working conditions retains the pin 32 in place.

A spring- 38 disposed between the bracket 28 and brake lever 30. presses the brake shoe 33 against the brake bar Bl when the brake is applied.

The application and release of the brake are controlled by the cam 17. the working face ofwhich is disposed below the roll 31. and works against the downward thrust of the spring 38. The am contour includes a recess 2L1. which is brought beneath the roll to allow the brake to be applied as shown in Fig". 1; h lovcnient oi the cam away 'l'rom this position brings an inclined side of the recess into contact with the roller 31., thereby raising the brake shoe from the bar Ill. rcleasing the door for movement, and bringing the level contour 42 of the cam beneath the roller, where it rests during the movement of the door, alter which by moving the cam it is returned to neutral position, bringingthe recess 11 again beneath the roller. thus returning the cam to its neutral or braking position. which in the double actingconstruction herein illustrated is its central position, what is herein termed a neutralizing or centralizing device is employed. It is herein shown (Figs. 5 and (3) as being applied directly to the brake rod 19. although it may be applied to any other purl oi the connections between the handle (3 and the cam 17. \Vhen that handle is also ployed as herein shown. for operating the latch or latches oi the door, it is desirable to return the handle to its neutral position For .lllll in order to leave :the latchor latches free to engage with any of their latch or striker plates. a a i y The neutralizing device is carried within thecasing 11.: A stop 43 is mounted on the casing 11, ventrally disposed between the guides 21 and 22. Spring caps 44!: and145 carried by the brake rod 19 are adapted to abut against the stop, 'under pressure oltthc expansion springs 4 .6 and 4:7, surrounding the brake rod 19 and lying between the uides 21 and 22, as shown in Fig. llinned ortixed to the bruke rod 19. between the adjoining caps in. and a5, is the collar 48, which is substantially of the same width as the stop 43, and is centrally held in the neutral position shown in Fig. by the action of the springs lt'wand 4T. ltndw ise movement of the hrake rod 19, and of the sliding cam 1.7 which attachedthereto, in either direction, bythe operating handle 6, and its dependinglever 8, will more the taillar 48 endwisein that direction against the pressure of whichever spring 46 or 47 may thus be compressed. Movementof the cam -13? away from its neutral or hraking position is thus opposed inone direction by thespring 46, and in the oth er direction hythe spring 4". The initial movement of the cam in either direction, while releasing the brake against the pressureof its spring 38, by the inclined sides of the cam recess 41, additionally opposed 'loy reaction of that spring uponthe side oli the recess. Butas soon as either inclined side has passed beyond the point of contact with the roller so that the llatterrests uponeither the level surfaces of the*c:nn,wlrich are parallel with the direction of the cam movement, the reactive effect of the hraike spring 88 upon the cam moven' ent ceases, leaving on'lythe resistance of whichever spring 46 or 47 may be compressed. The tension of the latter spring needs onlyto he snfiioient ito return the ma moving cam "and its connections to their neutral position w'henthe handle isreleased, and the continuing pressure on the handle 6, necessarytoheep the door moving. sufficient toovercome that tension, and prevent thecarn from being returned to neutral position. [But when the handle is releasedgthe cam is returned to 'neutral ;position by the a ction "of the, compressed spring 456 or l7, asthe'case' maybe, augmented at the latter part oti ts movement by the pressure of the brake spring 38 when the cam has moved far enough to bring "the inclined sidesot its recess 41. into contact with the roller 31.

Tnoperatingthis device when arranged as shownin-the drawing, the operator grasps the door handle 6' andturns it, 'prel erahlyin the direction ofthe desired movement of the door, that being his natural impulse or tendency. 'lllhis initial turning movement reileases the brake, and when connected with .a latch as herein shown, it also lifts the latch. and unrtastens the door if the latter should heiin a latched )osition. This initial movement requires su cient effort .to overcome first, the rresistance oi the brake spring 38, and ithen the inertia of the door. Then the door. being released from the brake and irmnits latching hold, is moved by acontinuationof the pushing action upon the halldle until it reaches "the desired position, whereupon ithe operator lets go of the handle. thus allowing it to return to its neutral position, thereby applying the brake and allowing the latch raised ,or latches to fall. Thus the door may he moved from either direction, through any portion, or the whole of its path of movement.

The brake remainsreleased throughout the entire movement independently of the latch t which is free to ride over and fall.

behind its striker plate, being raised only when the handle (i is turned to the left to move the door in the opposite direction. The latch IlS l 'IFQG to make its latching movement without applying the brake.

hltop ahntnients,flimitingtheturning movements ofthedoorhandle to the range required .for operating its latch, or for releasing the hrake,yare pretera-ihly employed, as shown in the patent above referred to. a A bar or projection fokton thedoor handle .6, travels in aslot in-the door, or escntcheou plate, the ends of the slots serving as stops tor the handle turning movement and receiving the pressure then appliedto move the door.

The parts are herein shown to be arranged and connected so that the door handle 6 turned inthe direction it is. desired to move the door, this being the natural andpret'erable arrangement; Obviously, however, the parts may be otherwise arranged and con nected according to circumstances. For example, if. the door handle is not connected with a. latch, or it the latch connection requires the handle to be turned in the oppo site direction, the brake will, nevertheless. he (.iperated correctly, without any change inthe connection hetween the handle and the brake device. Obviously, also, the handle might he extended downwardly or in any direction from the operating spindlei, or a knob or cross handle might be employed. Such modifications should be adaptedto the style or a-rral'igemcnt of the door. or to the preferences of the designer or user of the device.

The cam 17, which is herein shown as being mounted for sliding orrollingreciprocatory movement in a plane, with which the level surfaces 42 are parallel for the reason above described, may as shown in Fig. 11, he a sector shaped cam 50, mounted for in any approved way swinging reciprocatory movement in a pivotal center 51 elther above or below the .roller 31, approximately along the line 7-7,

Fig. l,' and'pivotally connected with the brake rOd 52.;v The recess; in. such a cam would be substantially like the recess 41, but the surfaces corresponding with its surfaces 42 should describe circular arcs 53 concentric with the center 51 of oscillation of the cam. thus making these surfaces parallel with their direction of movement, for supporting the roll -31 without reacting upon the cam to turn it to its neutral position while the door is being moved. 15 i The coacting surfaces of the brake shoe 33, they bar 8%, or its support 35, or any of them may be provided with any approved brake lining material. or otherwise adapted as braking surfaces. Or they may be corrugated or notched to increase the holding effect. The holding notches may be arranged at such intervals as may be suitable for holding the door positively in certain predetermined desired position, thus .in effect utilizing the brake bar as a striker plate. The brake lever 30 may in that case be provided with a. tooth or pawl extension in place of the pivoted brakeshoe '33. adapted to enter the notches of the brake bar, Thus the brake lever may'be made to serve as a latch, dispensing with the latch Other modifications within. the province of the. designer or builder may be made. to

.adapt the device to different conditions of service. The invention claimed is 1. The combination with a door and its operating handle, of a substantially inclosed holding device adapted to hold the door at intermediate positions in its movement, including a bi; .ke bar extending into a casing i carried by the door, a holding device in said casing. and connecting means between the said device and the said handle whereby the latter in the performance of its door moving I function also controlsthe operation of the ation of the holding device during either of said movements.-

3. Thecombination with a door, of a holdin'g device for the door, including a holding element extending along and within the path of the door movement, engaging devices carried by the door in engaging relation to the said element. including an operating handle mounted for movement on the door in the directions of the door movements and connected with the said engaging dcvices to operate them at different positions of the door.

l. The combination with a door. of means for holding the door at intermediate positions in its range of movement. including cooperating holding members. a movable cam for operating one of: said members. having an operating surface inclined to its direction of movemcmt. and a retaining surface Substantially parallel to that direction. and means for moving and retracting the cam.

The combination with a door of means for holding the door at intermediate positions in its range of movement. including cooperating holding members. a double :n-ting cam for operating one of said members having a substantially V shaped surface. the sides of which. when in neutral position. are disposed on opposite sides of the co-engaging portion of said mombeizmeans for moving the cam in either direction. and means for returning the cam to neutral position.

6. The combination with a door of means for holding the door at intermediate positions in its range of movement. including cooperating holding members. a double acting cam for operating one of said members having a substantially V shaped surface. the sides of which. when in neutral position. are disposed on opposite sides of the co-engaging portion of said member. means for moving the cam in either direction. an operating handle connected. with the cam and mounted for movement on the door in both directions of the door movement. and resilient means for returning the cam to neutral position.

7. The combination with a sliding door and its latching devices. of holding means for holding the door when away from its 7 latching position. and operating connection between the said latching devices and said holding means. to operate them corrclatively but independently of each other.

8. The combination with a sliding door and its latching mechanism. of holding devices for unlatched positions of the door. including an element disposed along the pathway of the door movement. and connecting means between the latching mechanism and the holding means for operating them coincidently. to release the door. and operating the holding device independently to hold the door.

9. The combination with a door braking mechanism and a door handle adapted to operate the door and the braking mechanism. of independent resilient means actuating the braking mechanism and returning the door l. l ll handle to inoperative position when the door handle is released.

10. Brakinq mechanism for a door, comprising a bralie bar extending into the door, a brake shoe within the door adapted to cooperate with the brake bar, an operating handle, connections between the operating handle and the brake shoe, means for operating the brake shoe to disengage it from the brake bar by a movement of the handle in either direction, and means for applying the brake upon the return of the handle to neutral position.

11. In braking mechanism for a sliding door the combination of a brake shoe, and a brake bar disposed between the ends of the door and adapted to be engaged at times with each other, an operating handle, and independent means associated with the brake shoe and operating handle for applying the brake and moving the handle to a neutral position when released.

12. In braking mechanism for a sliding door, the combination of a door operating handle, a brake lever and a brake shoe carried thereby, a brake rod connected to the handle and cooperating with the brake lever, and independent resilient means acting upon the brake rod to move the handle to neutral position, and operating the brake lever to apply the brake shoe.

13. In brakingmechanism for a sliding door, the combination of a brake lever carrying a brake shoe, aspring acting upon the brake lever to apply the brake shoe, a cam cooperating with the brake lever, means for actuating the cam to move the brake lever, and means for moving the cam to permit the spring action to move the brake lever and apply the brake shoe.

14. The combination with a door, of a spring pressed holding device therefor, and actuating means for the holding device, including a reciprocatory cam having a portion of its surface inclined to its direction of movement for actuating the holding device, and having an adjacent portion of its surface substantially parallel. with that direction to avoid reactive operation by the holding device upon the cam movement.

15. The combination with a door, of a holding device therefor including a spring for moving a holding member of the device, and a reciprocatory cam for moving the said member against the pressure of its spring, the :am having in its actuating surface a recess to permit free movement of the holding member by its spring, a side of the recess be ing inclined to its direction of movement to actuate the holding member, and having a surface substantially parallel with that direction to prevent reactive effect of the spring on the cam movement.

16. The combination with a door, of a holding device therefor including a spring for moving a holding member of the device, and a reciprocatory cam for moving the said member against the action of its spring, the cam having in its actuating surface a recess to permit free movement of the holding member by its spring, the sides "of the recess being inclined to their direction of movement to actuate the holding member by movement of the cam in either direction, and having surfaces substantially parallel to the direction of that movement to pre vent reactive effect of the spring on the cam movement.

CHARLES P. HOWARD. FRANK E. HOWARD.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent N 0. 1,390,786, granted September 13, 1921, upon the application of Charles P. Howard and Frank E. Howard, of Hartford, Connecticut, for an improvement in Door-Holders, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 80, for the words latch raised read raised latch, page 4, line 49, claim 2, strike out the word door; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of October, A. D., 1921.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

